Narrow-complex tachycardia
Background
Clinical Features
Differential Diagnosis
Evaluation
| Differential | A.Rhythm | A.rate | A.morphology | Vagal/adenosine |
| A fib | Irregular | >350 | Fibrillatory (V1) | Incr. AV block |
| A Flutter | Regular | >250, <350 | Sawtooth (II, III, AVF) | Incr. AV block |
| A Tach | Regular | >100 | Neg in II, III, AVF | Nothing |
| AVNRT (SVT) | Regular | >160 | No p's | → NSR |
| Junctional | Regular | >100, <150 | No p's or retrograde p's | Nothing |
| MAT | Irregular | >100 | >3 p shapes | Transient slowing |
| Sinus | Regular |
>100 <180 |
Normal | Transient slowing |
Flutter vs coarse AFib: determine atrial regularity by taking big bites
Management
Narrow Regular Tachycardia
- Sinus tachycardia
- Treat underlying cause
- SVT
- Vagal maneuvers (convert up to 25%)
- Adenosine 6mg rapid IV push if patient hemodynamically stable (unstable should proceed directly to electrical cardioversion)
- Can follow with repeat dose of 6 mg or 12mg if initially fails
- If adenosine fails, initiate rate control with calcium channel blocker or beta blocker or use synchronized cardioversion
- Diltiazem 15-20mg IV, followed by infusion of 5-15mg/hr
- Metoprolol 5mg IVP x 3 followed by 50mg PO
- Synchronized cardioversion (50-100J)
- Provide sedation prior to synchronized cardioversion if patient is hemodynamically stable
- Atrial flutter
- Stable: Consider rate control to HR < 110 bpm
- Unstable: Synchronized cardioversion; start at 50J
Narrow Irregular Tachycardia
- Multi-focal atrial tachycardia (MAT)
- Treat underlying cause (hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia)
- Consider diltiazem
- Avoid beta blockers unless they are already known to be tolerated, as airway disease often co-morbid
- If not symptomatic and rate < 110/120 bpm, may not require treatment (e.g., patient with MAT secondary to COPD)
- Sinus Tachycardia with frequent PACs
- Treat underlying cause
- A fib / A Flutter with variable conduction (see also Atrial Fibrillation with RVR)
- Check if patient has taken usual rate-control meds
- If missed dose, may provide dose of home medication and observe for resolution
- Determine whether patient is better candidate for rate control or rhythm control [1]
- Rate control preferred with:
- Persistent A fib
- Less symptomatic patients
- Age 65 or older
- Hypertension
- No heart failure
- Previous failure to cardiovert
- Patient preference
- Rhythm control preferred with:
- Paroxismal or new A fib
- More symptomatic patients
- Age < 65 years
- Heart failure clearly exacerbated by A fib
- No history of rhythm control failure
- Patient preference
- Rate control preferred with:
- Rate control with:
- Diltiazem
- Metoprolol
- Amiodarone (good in setting of hypotension, CHF)
- Digoxin (good in setting of CHF)
- Rhythm conversion with:
- Synchronized Cardioversion (120-200 J)
- Best performed on patients with new onset A fib or patients fully therapeutically anti-coagulated for > 3 weeks
- Procainamide per Ottawa Aggressive ED Cardioversion Protocol
- Synchronized Cardioversion (120-200 J)
- Check if patient has taken usual rate-control meds
Atrial fibrillation with RVR/flutter
- Rate control: Dilt, MTP, Digoxin
- Dig usually only helpful when already with a block (e.g. 2:1)
- Cardioversion: Sotalol, electric
- See Atrial Fibrillation (RVR)
AVNRT (SVT)
- Vagal, adenosine, beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, dixogin, electric, procainamide, amio, sotalol
Junctional
Remove the cause, Amiodarone, beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers
MAT
- Diltiazem
- Beta blockers often contraindicated (MAT occurs frequently with pulmonary disease)
Disposition
See Also
External Links
References
- ↑ Frankel, G. et al. (2013) Rate versus rhythm control in atrial fibrillation. Canadian Family Physician 59(2), 161 - 168